NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) -- A leading voice in Tennessee’s medical community says coronavirus is going to take Tennesseans on an extended roller-coaster ride in the coming months.
Middle Tennessee's Dr. Bill Frist is one of the nation's leading heart surgeons. He's also a ranking member of the state's Republican leadership and a former Speaker in the U.S. Senate.
Dr. Frist notes in a short video that little is currently known about coronavirus. He says that means any plans for reopening Tennessee’s economy must be flexible and based on scientific research as it becomes available.
This past week, Dr. Frist gave Nashville Mayor John Cooper's four-step process for re-starting the city's economy a ringing endorsement. He applauded Cooper's cautious, science-based approach to the issue saying,
"This will be a many month process and we should expect an accordion-like path, loosening restrictions and then tightening, loosening then tightening — all dictated by safety for our citizens."
Dr. Frist says getting back to normal could take up to 18 months and warned Tennesseans will need to be patient as the fight against coronavirus evolves.
